Utah Statesman holds USUSA debate
On Wednesday, candidates for the Utah State University Student Association Executive Council debated and answered questions from The Utah Statesman staff.
In the presidential debate, candidate Lucas Stevens expressed that an effective student body president should be someone who the administration will respect. Through his experience serving as executive vice president this year, Stevens explained how the administration responds well to professionalism.
“As much as professionalism is important, I think actually caring about people and being personable and making and building relationships is important too,” Fogth said. “And that’s what I’m good at.” Fogth’s campaign is centered around representing the student body.
USUSA Executive VP candidate Porter Casdorph
Porter Casdorph and Chase Harward are the USUSA Executive Vice President candidates. Casdorph expressed the importance of treating mental health like we treat physical health and his commitment to standardizing COVID-19 precautions all around USU.
Chase Harward said he can’t make any promises for next year due to COVID-19, but promised to enforce Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines if elected.
USUSA Executive VP candidate Chase Harward
Both candidates have different levels of leadership experience; Harward brings a Greek life perspective to the executive vice president position, while Casdorph brings his USUSA experience.
Ethan Conlee and Joseph Blanchard are running for the Student Advocate Vice President position. Both candidates talked about needing more diversity and representation in the government relations council.
Blanchard plans on reaching out to students through polls, individual interaction and working with connections classes to best advocate for students at USU.
Conlee expressed his excitement to represent students and lobby for student interests.
In the debate for Athletics and Campus Rec Vice President, Jordan Kerr and Taylor Sampson expressed their shared passion for USU athletics.
Kerr indicated his desire to get everyone involved with athletics and pushed for more watch parties through USU. Kerr has done a lot of work in the Hurd, USU athletics’ student section.
Taylor Sampson has also worked directly with the Hurd and USU athletics as a videographer. Sampson discussed her plans to revamp the Hurd website in order to promote women’s sports and keep students informed and up to date about athletic events.
Alexis Needleman and Logan Hill are both running for Student Events Vice President. In their debate, Hill talked about adapting to COVID and his excitement to continue creating new events that are safe and fun for students.
USUSA Organizations & Campus Diversity VP candidates Kayleen Lam (left) and Emilee Harmon (right)
Needleman currently serves as the USUSA Events activity director and helped plan several of the socially distanced events this year. Needleman has worked closely with Student Events during COVID-19. She expressed confidence in her ability to continue working with student events.
In the Organizations and Campus Diversity Vice President debate, candidates Kayleen Lam and Emilee Harmon both showed their passion for inclusion at USU.
Lam has been involved with 11 different diversity based organizations at USU. Lam explained that diversity is a puzzle piece to inclusion that requires action from the university.
Harmon promised to be an ally to all and to hold the university accountable, especially when its leaders don’t show up to diversity centered events. Harmon got a little tearful while describing how she will, if elected, work with the university and show up for every student at USU.
*photos by Bailey Rigby.
Emily White is a junior studying English and broadcast journalism. She is currently serving as the senior writer for the Lifestyles section of the Statesman.
—emily.white@usu.edu